PHILIPPI, W. Va. - The Frostburg State Men's Lacrosse team set a new defensive standard in a 19-1 road win over Alderson Broaddus, with the one goal being the fewest allowed in a game in school history.
The game started out quickly for FSU, as senior Jake Bowman scored either side of back-to-back goals from junior Owen McCallum for a 4-0 lead with nine and a half minutes remaining in the first. The Battlers scored to make it 4-1, but that would be all the offense they got the rest of the way, as the Bobcat defense stifled the attack, not allowing a shot on goal the rest of the half. Frostburg took advantage with a goal from junior Austin Linn, then scored three times in the final two minutes, courtesy of two goals from senior Gavin Schattall and another from freshman Alex Walstrum off a faceoff win for an 8-1 advantage at the end of the quarter.
AB's defense held FSU in check to start the second quarter, but the Bobcats quickly turned on the afterburners with three goals in a minute from a trio of freshmen in defenders Seamus Kearney and Ryan Tyler, along with midfielder Dom Flora, Jr. for an 11-1 lead. Frostbrug then took advantage of a multitude of man-up opportunities, going 3-3 with goals from junior Chase Buckwalter, senior Nick Nordhausen, and sophomore Austin Sipes. McCallum completed his hat trick at the three-minute mark to cap the half with a 15-1 lead.
Kearney again turned defense into attack with a goal off a feed from Schattall immediately following a clear for his second of the game. Sophomore Brady Crumbacker added to the fun with his first career goal to push the advantage to 17-1 at the end of the third. The fourth quarter was a defensive battle, with both sides creating good chances, as the post and senior substitute goalkeeper Mitch Meckley came to Frostburg's rescue on a couple occasions. FSU finally got the breakthrough goal of the quarter through Nordhausen with two minutes remaining, then sophomore Parker Masters completed the scoring with 49 seconds left for the final 19-1 victory.
Schattall (two points, two assists) and junior Bubba Love (four assists) led the offense with four points apiece to go along with McCallum's three goals. Kearney had another great all-round day with his pair of goals, while also leading the team with three caused turnovers out of 14 overall. Freshman Alex Walstrum justified his ECC Rookie of the Week honor with an 11-12 performance in the faceoff circle and a game-high eight groundballs. Senior Cade Price was also effective, winning 10 of his 11 faceoffs with five groundballs.
With the win, Frostburg improves to 9-6 overall, while the Battlers are now 1-10. The Bobcats are back in action tomorrow, April 27 as the return to Bobcat Stadium for a first-ever matchup with ECC foe D'Youville, set for 5 p.m. Information and updates will be posted at frostburgpsorts.com.
